WHAT IS COMMERCIAL FARMING? ITS CHARACTERISTICS AND BENEFITS
What is commercial farming? Its characteristics and benefits
Farming is the process of raising crops and livestock to sell to generate income. To promote commercial agriculture, a large investment is required. Along with this, it needs large farms, modern technology, new machinery, good irrigation system, chemical fertilizers, etc. to produce high yield. Commercial agriculture is characterized by the use of modern production methods, such as good fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and many others. Commercial crops are also sought after for export to other countries. It is also used as a raw material in the food processing industry. The nature of commercial agriculture also varies from region to region.
Types of commercial agriculture
There are many examples of commercial farming models
- dairy farm
- Commercial agriculture
- agricultural crops
- Meat
- Mediterranean agriculture
- Polyculture and breeding
- Commercial farms grow fruit and vegetables
Advantages of commercial agriculture
- In this, farmers grow crops for trade. It is also called agribusiness, where farmers grow crops or livestock to make a profit by selling them.
- Following this, farmers will invest a lot of money in this agriculture. Often, farmers increase agricultural productivity in this agriculture through the use of food or other modern inputs including fertilizers, seeds of various types of fruit, pesticides, herbicides, etc. killer and many others.
- In commercial agriculture, farmers will use many modern technologies to increase agricultural productivity. They usually cultivate cash crop and grains in this agriculture.
- A known benefit is increased productivity or crop yield. By mechanizing various agricultural activities, it reduces the time needed to cultivate the land and increases the acreage and production. With agricultural tools, it is easy to carry out procedures such as the organization of work, pest and disease control. Through increased production, it adds value to the national food product.
- As commercial agriculture uses machinery and electricity, it increases the supply of electricity to areas outside the agricultural land. It helps to improve local infrastructure. The roads are built for fast and safe delivery of goods and materials. • With the increase in productivity, the price of agricultural products is reduced to make it affordable for all. It helps meet demand and supply; instead, the goods are stored for emergencies. • With advanced mechanization, it now takes less time to complete farming. Farmers use the best tools for plowing, planting, planting and harvesting. In addition, the irrigation system is also improved to reduce the cost of production.
- It helps to create different opportunities where professionals are employed to improve production and economy. • Commercial agriculture works as a major source of raw materials. Fruit growing, in this area, provides other food companies. For example, the fruit industry is supplied for the production of beverages, while cocoa and coffee are produced to meet the needs and supply of the confectionery industry.
- Food products from agriculture are sold. They are exported to other countries, which brings business. Non-agricultural countries are a desirable market for businesses.
Disadvantages of commercial agriculture
- In order to increase the productivity of the land, commercial agriculture destroys tropical forests. As the area under forest cover is the best to produce crops. When forests are cleared to grow crops, there is a negative impact of deforestation on the environment.
- As commercial agriculture becomes more important, farmers pursue their careers and all available land becomes farmland. With the large increase in agricultural land, there is no land available for cultivation and farmers are prevented from using the land which in turn can threaten the production rate.
- Land earmarked for commercial farming is sold at high prices, preventing new farmers from buying the land and entering the business.
- When crops such as fruits and vegetables are grown on agricultural land, they are easily lost. If not sold at the right time, these crops can become food in a few days. In addition, a large number is required to implement the security system.
- Commercial agriculture is a major factor in increasing the use of fertilizers, herbicides and other chemicals to protect crops from insect attacks. But these chemicals, in turn, pose a real risk to humans.
An important difference between subsistence and commercial agriculture
A distinction can be made between subsistence farming and commercial farming based on the following premises:
- Subsistence agriculture is an agricultural system that seeks to produce a variety of crops that meet all or nearly all the needs of the farmer and his family, with little or no nothing is commercially produced. Commercial farming is a farming system in which crops and animals are grown for the purpose of commercialization. 2. Due to the large labor required in food agriculture, it is a labor intensive process. On the contrary, in commercial agriculture, a large investment is required, which is why it is a financial system.
- Due to the large labor required in food agriculture, it is a labor intensive process. On the contrary, in commercial agriculture, a large investment is required, which is why it is a financial system.
- Subsistence agriculture is practiced only in small areas. On the other hand, a large area is required to carry out commercial farming.
- In order to increase productivity, nutrients are added to the soil for agricultural purposes. On the other hand, in commercial agriculture, crop production can be increased through the large inputs of modern i.e. seeds of various productive species, fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, etc.
- In subsistence farming, food crops such as wheat and rice, fruits and vegetables are usually grown. On the other hand, in commercial agriculture, crops and cereals are usually grown.
- While subsistence agriculture relies heavily on monsoons and simple irrigation methods, commercial agriculture relies on modern irrigation methods such as surface irrigation, drip irrigation , watering, etc.
- In food agriculture, traditional farming methods are used, while machinery is used for tillage, in commercial agriculture.
